Wedding drone photography, everything you need to know

If you’re considering having drone wedding photography on your big day, take a look at our need-to-know guide to hiring a drone.

Forget any preconceptions you have of drones being toy planes for adults who refuse to grow up – drone wedding photography has been on the rise for quite some time now and it’s not exactly hard to see why.

Thanks to the ever changing world of technology, today’s drones can capture truly spectacular aerial wedding photographs that you’ll want to treasure forever. However, just as you would ask your wedding photographer questions, there’s certain things you need to know about hiring a wedding drone.

Image credit: Drone Safe Register

What is a drone?

A drone is simply an unmanned aircraft. These image-capturing aircraft’s can film and photograph from a unique aerial perspective, providing high quality cinematic footage and photos to treasure forever. Drones are increasingly becoming a ‘must-have’, to help capture those unforgettable wedding moments.

Why are they ideal for weddings?

Drones can be a fantastic option to consider when you choose your wedding videography and photography, as they can be used in a variety of ways. They can capture key moments of the day – such as videoing a special moment between the bride and groom or perhaps photographing a big group of guests from above. Drone filming can look so spectacular, because the footage can really reveal the grandeur of a wedding venue and its surroundings.

Image credit: Drone Safe Register

Is it expensive to hire a drone?

Prices vary so make sure to get a few quotes, but you should typically budget around £300 to £1000 to hire a drone operator who can also deliver an edited video. In our experience, brides and grooms usually go for this option and want a drone operator who can both capture the aerials and provide completely edited videos and photos.

Who would control the drone at the wedding?

The pilot (who operates the drone from the ground using controls) is responsible for the overall safety of the flight. Guests must not do anything to compromise that, such as distracting them during the flight. There are rules that drone operators follow to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible whilst the drone is flying.

Can I control the drone?

It’s best to leave drone flying to the professionals – after all, learning to fly a drone often takes hundreds of hours of practise. Drones aren’t toys. The controls are pretty complex and aren’t something that you can simply just pick up.

Do you have any tips for couples who are hiring a drone for their wedding?

The key thing when planning your drone wedding photography is to allow time to capture the event and carefully choose the moments when it flies. An ideal moment to capture would be between the ceremony and the reception whilst the guests are socialising. A classic drone wedding shot is to position all the guests together with the bride and groom in the centre whilst the drone ascends into the sky – everyone will appear in the frame and get smaller and smaller as the drone flies away.

Image credit: Blush Photography

Will the weather have to be taken into consideration?

Yes. It’s worth noting that drones can’t fly in rain or high winds. The pilot will tell you if the weather conditions are unsuitable for flying.

Are drones noisy?

Drones, vows and speeches don’t go together because of the noise that the drones make. Drones aren’t quiet because they have high powered motors which turn the propellers to produce the uplift. It’s best to talk to your drone pilot, guests and venue, so that you can arrange when the drone needs to be grounded for the important bits.

Will the photography be high quality?

Your pilot will typically be able to offer a range of cameras to suit your budget. When you go to pick a camera, you should consider your wedding budget, how much material you plan to film and how good you want your pictures or video to look. Today, wedding drone operators are using everything from GoPro’s to DSLR cameras. Some drones even come with built-in 4K cameras.

Image credit: Blush Photography

Will I need to get permission from my venue to have a drone?

Yes. Your pilot will need permission from the land owner and/or venue before flying. Arranging to have a drone at a wedding requires considerable planning and preparation, so give yourself enough time to discuss the safety considerations with your pilot and the venue. However, the time and effort spent in the planning is well worth it, since nothing comes close to capturing breathtaking and unique aerial footage and photos on one of the biggest days of your life!

What kind of venue would best suit drone photography and videography?

Outdoor wedding venues with lots of space make the best venues for drones, but having said that, there are many drone pilots across the UK who have the skills and experience to fly indoors.

How do I hire a safe and legal drone operator?

You must make sure that your drone operator is a safe and legal operator. By law, any drone operator who is flying for commercial gain must have permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and have a valid insurance. There are many illegal drone operators who use them without CAA permission or insurance, which is a criminal offence. Our company, Drone Safe Register (DSR), is a searchable drone hire directory which only lists professional drone operators with CAA permission – so you can rest assured that you are strictly looking for legal drone operators when you go through DSR.

Image credit: Drone Media Imaging

Thinking of having a drone at your wedding? Head to our drone directory on hitched to browse through our listed suppliers. You can also check out the CAA’s website to familiarise yourself with their ‘drone code’.

If you’ve already started planning all the stunning photos you want to have in your wedding album, take a look at our wedding photo checklist for more inspirational ideas.